Rep. Tlaib offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 170.   

            A resolution to urge the Governor not to appoint an Emergency Manager for Detroit but to work with elected city officials, Detroit legislators, and all stakeholders to develop solutions for the city's financial problems.

            Whereas, Democracy should always be maintained in the United States, and appointing emergency managers destroys democracy and takes away voting rights; and

            Whereas, The well-established financial challenges facing Michigan's largest city can only be met through a cohesive and collaborative approach reflecting the strong support of the people of the community and their individual right to elected representation. The displacement and turmoil brought about by the banking crisis and the subsequent foreclosures, the global meltdown that led to bankruptcies in the domestic auto industry, and staggering unemployment have brought many challenges to this proud city of Detroit. While it is clear that reconciling the serious gap between the city's needs and its resources will require even more painful steps than those already taken, it is also clear that any actions necessary will be far more effective if taken by those elected by the people of Detroit; and

            Whereas, Suggestions of the appointment of an Emergency Manager (EM) for Detroit does not take into account the unique role that Detroit plays as the best known city in Michigan. Appointing an EM will severely mar the image of our state and indicate—falsely—that Detroit and Michigan are not able to solve problems through the traditional institutions of elective government and collective action. This notion also does not acknowledge the capacity and the resources the city has to meet this crisis. Most importantly, appointment of an EM would inject an adversarial component that would do little to foster the cooperation that is crucial to true and long-lasting solutions; and

            Whereas, An appointed EM would effectively remove the city's duly elected officials, thereby also removing accountability to the citizens. This would disenfranchise the people of Detroit and take away their rights of self-determination, rights that are at the heart of an effective democracy. Certainly, the track record of EMs is questionable at best; and

            Whereas, It has become apparent that the leadership within Detroit is now coming together to make the hard choices that need to be made to save the city's budget. It would seem far more productive for the Governor and other state officials to work with the Detroit's elected leaders and all stakeholders to solve the problems at hand rather than, effectively, removing them through the appointment of an EM; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Governor not to appoint an Emergency Manager for Detroit but to work with elected city, Detroit legislators, and all stakeholders to develop solutions for the city's financial problems; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Office of the Governor.